

Broxbourne Borough Victoria & Elm F.C.
are a football club based in Waltham Cross.& are members of Spartan
South Midlands Football League Premier Division.
White & Royal Blue
Founded > 1959 Nick Name > Boro
V & E Club, Goffs Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, EN7 5QW Tel: 01992
624281
1975 Somerset FC and V&E Youth Club Merged > 1975-1989 Somerset V & E FC
1982 Somerset V & E FC and Cheshunt Rangers FC Merged 1982-1991 >
Somerset FC
1991 Somerset FC and Ambury FC Merged > 1991 Somersett Ambury V & E FC
2002 Changed name to Broxbourne Borough V & E
Formed in 1959, Somersett Football Club, originated from ex-pupils of
Chase Boys School, in Enfield. They joined the Edmonton Youth Saturday
League and for the first two seasons propped up the league unable to win
a single fixture. In 1961 the club applied for and was accepted into the
reputed Enfield Alliance Football League. Somersett’s dismal lack of
success continued and again they waved to the rest of the clubs from the
bottom of the division. There was a marginal improvement in the next
season when they progressed to fourth from bottom. Some would say that
was the equivalent of winning the league. Indeed the club didn’t come
away empty handed that year as they won the prestigious award of
‘Sportsman Trophy’ given to the most sporting team in the Alliance
League. Somehow being chosen from a league of over sixty sides seemed at
last to inspire the players, and did mark a turning point in the clubs
success, when the following year they won promotion to division three.
The club in successive seasons progressed to the premier league winning
many cup competitions although never winning the premiership title. In
1975 Somersett were invited to join the V & E Youth Club Centre at their
present site in Goffs Lane, Cheshunt. An ambitious youth policy was
quickly established which was later enhanced in 1982 when Cheshunt
Rangers FC merged with the club to form, what is now the back-bone of
the current side although there was one further major change to come.
Because of the growing connections and emphasis on youth within the
Cheshunt area, the Club decided in 1989, after almost 20 years in the
Enfield Alliance League, to join the McMullens League. In their first
season they won the Division 3 title and the League Cup. They were
promptly promoted to Division 1 and became champions in that season
1984/5. Somersett also achieved great success in the County Cup,
reaching the final. Despite their quick rise into the Premier Division
they established themselves as a forceful premier league side.
In 1991, Ambury FC, a premier division team from the Sunday Brooke
Waltham League, joined forces with Somersett to become Somersett Ambury
V & E FC, then known locally as SAVE FC. In 1993 the club joined the
Herts. Senior League as a division one team. Within two seasons they won
promotion to the premier league. After finishing as ‘runners-up’ in the
Herts. Senior premier league in1997/8 the Club applied for and was
accepted into the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division. This
was by far the clubs most ambitious challenge and one the club board
members and players looked forward to. 1998/99 season saw the club
coming of age as we gained Senior status in the Spartan South Midlands
League. It was an eye opener, playing competitive games twice a week
with a small squad soon proved an uphill task. Still we weathered the
storm with an experienced manager in the form of Dave STEADMAN. We
finished 18th in the league and looked to improve in the 1999/2000
season. In the closed season we had a change of manager manager
welcoming Kevin ROWARK to the club. Again we found the squad light of
experienced players and had a languid time through out, never leaving
the lower section of the league. By March the club was in serious threat
of relegation so the responsibility of manager passed to long serving
player Paul ROBBINS. His hard endeavour together with the determination
of the squad saw us survive by the skin of our teeth. In February 2000
SAVE made a few changes to the committee and introduced a full time bar
steward/groundsman, Wayne MORRIS a player and member of the club since
the early 8092s. Those decisions lead to a dramatic upturn in the clubs
finances and we were able for the first time to plan ahead with some
degree of certainty. By the autumn Lyn BENDING an experienced Licencee
took over the bar, improving the Social side of the club still further.
The summer saw improvements to the pitch, alterations to the bar,
resiting of the kitchen and redecoration of both changing rooms. However
by far the most important change came in the form of new manager Andy
LEESE and his staff of Tony MILLS and Mark STANDEN. All came from
Potters Bar bringing with them a squad of young and enthusiastic
players. The change in training and the numbers involved through July
and August was very encouraging and with solid wins against Ryman sides
Berkhampstead and Leyton Penant all beared well for the new season. The
season began with a loss at Potters Bar in the Herts. Charity Shield but
this did not daunt this new side for SAVE. As was to be seen throughout
the following eight months every player gave their all and when they
were down, they were at their most dangerous, frequently turning a
deficit at half-time into a win. Despite the bad weather, which began in
October, the side battled through and by Christmas were an acknowledged
side to be reckoned with. Narrowly beaten in the FA Vase by Jewson side
Maiden Town they bounced back with a deserved win at Letchworth in the
Challenge Trophy on a windy wet night. Mid table was the aim but by
February anything less than sixth place would have been a
disappointment. Sticking to the task the players did all Andy LEESE
required of them - the reward being fifth in the league a feat far
exceeding the clubs wildest dreams. Further reward was to come in the
Roy Bailey Cup with a fine win at Hertford and a methodical workman like
performance at Ryman Divison 2 club Cheshunt. This led to a final
against Hoddesdon Town. A hard season was rounded off with a deserved
win. Again the character of the side shone through and it was their
determination and belief that won the day. The 2001/2 season brought
rich reward to the club. In the F.A. Vase we went to Bury Town F.C.
beating them 5 - 4. A pulsating match that with twenty minutes to go we
were loosing by three goals. This was all overturned, with SAVE scoring
four in that short time. The following round we went out narrowly to
Ryman Two side Barton Rovers. In the F.A. Cup in our inaugural year we
beat Clapton from Ryman Three, and Stewarts and Lloyds from the
Midlands. Finally we met Canvey Island then leaders of the Premier
Division of the Rymans League. Yes we were well beaten by a
semiprofessional club but we made many friends and now look forward to
these competitions in the coming year. In the league we finished mid
table, maybe a slight disappointment, however it established us as a
team to be reckoned with capable of beating any team on the day. In cup
competitions we faired better reaching but loosing in the semi-finals of
the Roy Bailey trophy and the Spartans South Midlands Floodlight Cup.
There are major changes ahead for the new season, not least a name
change. It was felt that the name Somersett Ambury gave no clue as to
our location, indeed few people in the area appreciated that we were
their local club. So, after much discussion we unanimously agree to be
registered as Broxbourne Borough V & E F.C. The V & E being retained to
maintain our charity status. Our youth section expanded thanks to
Broxbourne Saints youth section joining the club giving us an additional
nine sides, as we welcome them and hope the move is a success for all.
In the Senior football we lost first team manager Andy Leese who has
taken up the vacant position at Ryman club Cheshunt. We wish him every
success in this new venture . This left us the problem of finding a
successor, no mean feat giving the achievements Andy made in two
seasons. W e felt that we did not need to look far and gave the job to
Andy’s assistant, David CRAIG. With a small squad and key players gone
it was going to be a difficult time yet he achieved 13th place and but
for an error by the club secretary would have made 11th spot. The
football remained entertaining and many notable games were won against
stronger opposition. It was a shame that David couldn't continue this
season however family commitments have prevented this. 2003/04 season
saw the arrival of old player, new Manager Martin WADE, who lived
locally and who could find enough local players to continue the success
of the club. His assistants were John WARD a former manager at the club
and a long serving player in the Ryman League, and another Ryman player
Matt BARLOW. Martin found the going tough particularly when he realised
he didn’t have enough quality players. The club were not in a position
to assist financially so it is to his credit and his players that they
achieved 16th spot and at no time did they look as though they would be
relegation candidates. In the closed season Peter THEO arrived from
Royston Town - he not only became Manager of the first team but also
through the setting up of a new company took over the running of the
club. His direction in the first twelve months has led to a
transformation of the clubhouse and pitch with seating for 150 people
and a new stand due for completion in Autumn 2005. On the field he has
produced a team that reached 9th in the league table and but for a poor
run over the Christmas and New Year could have achieved a top three
position. 2004/05 started with a mixture of the old and new, so it was
difficult initially to reach a decent standard of football to worry the
leading sides although we did become a thorn in the side of leading club
Hanwell Town who we beat both home and away. The side ended on a settled
note in the latter stages of the season and ran up a series of wins that
showed we were on the right road.
So as season 2005/06 approaches with training underway from June and
with some new significant signings the future does look interesting. The
aim is to finish in the top three. In fact Peter Theo insists, that is
non negotiable which with the likelihood of three teams being promoted
at the end of the season is heartening news. For this reason Broxbourne
have set out to reach the next ground grading by Christmas to ensure
that given the opportunity we WANT promotion. With the new lease about
to be negotiated these are exiting time for the club.